Welcome to the First Colony Community

Association

E-Newsletter

! FCCA Board of Directors 2017 FCCA Board of Directors: Rick Conley - President Mary Favre - Vice-President Phyllis Murray - Secretary Noel Mascarenhas- Treasurer Sandy Denton Sean Hartig Andrea Lewman Board e-mail: board@firstcolony.org

Board Meetings are scheduled for the 4th Thursday of the month starting at 5:00 pm. FCCA members are invited to speak to the Board regarding any matters related to Association business. During all regularly scheduled Board Meetings, membership input is set at 5:30 pm. Any member wishing to speak must sign in and will be allotted a maximum of three minutes to speak. Members must be present and signed in no later than 5:30 pm. Next Board meeting: Thursday, September 28, 2017

First Colony Strong!

! First Colony is Strong! We have come through Hurricane Harvey stronger than ever. Please take a moment to thank our first responders. They have done a remarkable job. And thanks to all the volunteers that helped, and are still helping, those that suffered loss in this hurricane. Help support your neighbors who have been devastated by the flood by purchasing a First Colony Strong T-shirt. 100% of the proceeds will go to Hurricane Harvey relief. We will be selling them at the FCCA office during office hours of Monday - Friday from 8 am - 5 pm. Sizes are Adult Small through Adult double XL. T-shirts are $15.00. Cash, checks or credit cards (A convenience fee of 2.95% will be charged for all credit card transactions). We are also selling window stickers for $5.00. We love our First Colony neighborhoods and are so proud how everyone has come together to help each other. Come support your neighbors by purchasing a t-shirt or window sticker to show "We are FirstColonyStrong"!

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! FCCA Hosts National Night Out Not having a National Night Out (NNO) in your neighborhood? Join First Colony Community Association (FCCA) on Tuesday, October 3rd for National Night Out. The event will take place in the FCCA parking lot located at 4350 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land from 6 - 8 pm (smaller parking lot next to the school). The purpose of NNO is to build strong partnerships between the police and the communities they serve. Promoting neighborhood camaraderie can make neighborhood safer, better places to live. National Night Out helps bring back a true sense of community and provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

There will be a "Paw Patrol themed" bounce house, a "fire truck" slide for the kids to play on along with other activities. Kids will also have fun having their face painted! Enjoy pizza (while it lasts) and listen to music by our DJ. City of Sugar Land and City of Missouri City police, fire fighters and elected officials have been invited. We will be selling "First Colony Strong" T-shirts and window stickers (see article above) during NNO. FCCA members are one big neighborhood so come out and meet your neighbors!

FEMA Information Residents who may be utilizing FEMA for damage assistance, can check out https://www.disasterassistance.gov/. This link will allow you to register for FEMA as well as provide helpful information. Please pay close attention to the do's and don'ts. There are also many rumors on what you can and can't do related to FEMA. For factual tips go to https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey-rumor-control. Click here for a Hurricane Harvey Resource Guide. To see the Harvey Immediate Assistance Plan, click here.

Recreation Programs Register Now!

First Colony residents enjoy an active lifestyle with many choices of leisure opportunities. FCCA enjoys offering the members many classes and programs.

Visit www.firstcolony.org under Parks & Rec to learn about all of the exciting programs FCCA offers for children and adults. The website is full of information on summer camps, classes, programs, pools, swim lessons, and much more! Register online at https://etrak-plus.com/prod2/portal?org=83 or in person at the FCCA office. Or you can call the office at 281-634-9555.

**A convenience fee (2.95%) will be charged for all credit card transactions and $1.95 for an eCheck. First Colony does not receive any portion of this fee. It goes directly to

RevoPay that processes the payment. You can still pay by check at the office.

Yoga/Meditation: Designed for Stress Relief

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A 60 minutes of warm, slow moving, stress relieving class, perfect for the end of a hectic work week day. Designed for those who want to slow it down, come back to the SELF or "Home" in subtle body practice. The class incorporates breath, meditation, slow

movement and restorative postures. All levels welcome!"

Days: Monday & Wednesday Location: Heritage Colony Clubhouse Session : October - November 2017 Time: 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm Days: Wednesday & Friday Location: Heritage Colony Clubhouse

Session October - November 2017 Time: 9:30 am - 10:30 am

Instructor: Maya Mehta

Each session is $70. Discount of $10.00 for each additional member of the family.

Six-Week Mindfullness Course

Learn to notice your thoughts without getting swept away by them. Learn skills to keep your brain healthy, de-stress and enhance your

overall well-being

Day: Tuesday Location: Aquatic Center Classroom

Session: September 19 - October 24 Time: 7 pm - 8 pm Ages: 14 and up

Instructor: Kathleen Troiano Fee: $60.00

Watercolor

This class will tech he design elements and principals, color theories, textures and various watercolor techniques. Beginners, as well as experienced watercolor students are welcome to join. Day: Thursday Location: Aquatic Center Classroom Session: September 14 - October 12 Time: 9 am - 12 pm Instructor: Margaret Su Cost: $100.00

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Mr. John's Art Class For registration information call John Rodak 832-466-5807 English, 832-466-5239 Chinese Day: Wednesday Session: October 4 - December 20 Time: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm Location: Aquatic Center Classroom Day: Saturday Session: October 7 - December 16 Time: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Location: Aquatic Center Classroom

Fort Bend Fencing Academy

! Instruction in basic fencing through advanced tactical techniques. Instruction includes footwork, blade work, and bouthing strategies.

Days: Thursday Times: 5:00 - 7:00 pm; Beginners Ages: 7 and up Location: Aquatic Center Instructor: Manuel Rodriguez Fee: $100.00/ month 10% sibling discount Spanish Club for Kids

! Your children will learn Spanish in a natural manner through play, games, music, and conversation. Children learn to communicate through dialogues, phrases, expressions and, drills that they can use with friends, other people and family "EN ESPAÑOL". Let them learn a second language the fun, natural way! Day: Monday Location: Heritage Colony Clubhouse Time: 4:45 pm - 5:30 pm Ages: 3 - 5 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm Grades: 1 - 8 Session: On-going monthly class Instructor: Adriana Gutierrez Fee: $64.00/month or $16.00/class

50 and over Balance, Strength & Fitness Class

Do you struggle to have strength or energy to do the things you used to do or want to do on a daily basis? Are you worried about falling? Has

your doctor mentioned bone density as a concern? The first things your body loses with age are balance and power. The leading injuries for

people age 50 and up are fall related injuries. Bone density loss starts around age 40 and can improve or stop with weight bearing exercise. Loss of pelvic floor strength can lead to bladder control issues. Many

people over the age of 50 also struggle with muscle loss, flexibility loss or weight gain. If any of these issues relate to you or you want to change up your fitness routine, you should join this great class!

Days: Monday and Wednesday Session: October 2, 2017 - May 30, 2018, monthly class, join at any

time Location: FCCA Aquatic Center Classroom

Time: 10:00-11:00 am Registration Fee: $10 one time annually

Cost: $17/class drop-in rate or $99/monthly (non-refundable) Instructor: Markell Lyng

To register email coachmarkell@swimfcst.com or visit www.triandfitness.com and click "start registration"

Tennis Lessons:

Learn the modern game of tennis the fun way - hitting the dip drive, the bender, the up & down, doubles & singles strategy & tactics, high performance drills and become a game ready player. You can't play golf with just a driver and you can't play a high level of tennis with a basic forehand, backhand and serve & volley. You need different shots for different stages and phases of the match.

Also, attention home schoolers! We are flexible and can fit tennis in your busy schedules. The tennis schedule can be accessed at www.firstcolony.org. For more information call Jack Foster at 281-450-4187 or email jmtennis@windstream.net.

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To see complete list of classes and descriptions visit www.firstcolony.org under Parks & Rec.

For questions or to register call 281-634-9555. Tell us what you want in recreation! FCCA prides itself in offering a wide variety of recreational activities. We are always looking to add new and exciting programs. We welcome your feedback and if you have an idea for a program that we don't already offer or have planned, let us know. And if you are interested in becoming an instructor for a new class, let us know that too! At FCCA, we are all about what you would like, so just tell us what you are looking for and we will do our best to make it happen. Please submit your ideas to billg@firstcolony.org.

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Pools Most of the pools are now closed for the season. The Aquatic Center Leisure pool suffered some flood damage during Hurricane Harvey. Normally this pool would still be open on the weekends through September 24th. Since it will be closed, we are opening the Lexington Colony pool and the Magnolia Plantation pool instead. They will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am - 6 pm through September 24th. The Austin Park pool operates part of the time with lifeguards on duty and part of the time as a "swim at your own risk" facility. For more details on this pool and a full pool schedule please refer to the Summer guide or the website at www.firstcolony.org. The Aquatic Center Lap Pool is also "Swim at Your Own Risk" facility. Lifeguards are not on duty at any time. Since this is a fitness swimming facility, there are NO areas of the pool designated for leisure swimming. There should be no children in the pool unless they can swim a full lap. Residents are required to submit a $100 deposit for the pool key. For details check the website.

Other great amenities to enjoy around the Aquatic Center Park are the lakeside trail system, two boardwalks that serve as a kayak/canoe launch and fishing pier, two scenic lake overlook areas, two volleyball courts, two bocce ball courts, three horseshoe pits, shaded chess/checker tables overlooking the lake and a disc golf course. FCCA also has great tennis facilities with 4 courts at Lexington Colony and 2 courts at Woodstream.

! Kayak Fun on Brooks Lake There is still time to have fun on Brooks Lake by checking out a kayak at the Oyster Creek boathouse (15910 Creekbend Dr. Sugar Land). The

boathouse is open Saturdays and Sundays through October 29th. Hours of operation are: • Saturdays: 10 am - 7 pm • Sundays: 1 pm - 6 pm You must be 21 years of age or older to check out a kayak. Rowers under 21 must be accompanied by an adult. There is no cost to check out a kayak for FCCA members. FCCA members must have a current FCCA pool tag as proof of residency. Pool tags are available to members at the FCCA office located at 4350 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land starting April 10th. • Office hours: Monday - Friday from 8 am - 5 pm You will need to show proof of residency to receive a pool tag by providing your driver's license or a current utility bill. At kayak check out you will be required to leave a drivers' license and sign a liability form. Non-residents may check out a kayak by purchasing a pass at the FCCA office. One use pass is $10.00 per person and a season pass is $50.00 per person. For more information check the website or call 281-634-9555.

Community Standards Reminder

! The Community Standards Team would like to remind all First Colony residents that our staff is available to answer any questions or help find solutions to any problems that are still being experienced due to the Harvey flooding. The huge task of clean-up and recovery is still underway and it will take the entire community to join together to rebuild. Please try to do your best to remediate and rebuild if your home

was damaged by the floods (don't forget to submit a property improvement form for approval if you are repairing, adding or changing anything on the exterior of the home). If you were fortunate enough not to be impacted by the storm, please maintain your property as is normally required. Be kind enough to lend your neighbors a helping hand if they need help. .

! FCCA Resumes Watering Our recent bout with Hurricane Harvey has given our landscape an obvious beating with wind, rains, and enormous amounts of erosion. So, what happens now? After unusual amounts of rain and, in this case, flooding, our landscape and turf areas have become weathered or beaten. Plants need sunlight with air, water and nutrients in the soil for good health. Heavy rains become problematic for landscape, soil pores fill up with water quickly, and saturation occurs allowing no air to enter the pore space Therefore, plant life begins to decline due to suffocation as well as nutrients being depleted due to overwatering or flooding. Most landscape cannot withstand saturated soil conditions for a period of more than 2-5 days. Clay soils especially can only percolate water into the zone at a rate of 0.02-0.04 inches per hour on a normal rain (1in per/hr.). As water diminishes in the landscape area, air will begin moving back into those landscape pore spaces. Think of a sponge and all its "air space" when dry versus when it is wet. Once again the cycle starts over, plants begin to utilize water as they need it which has been stored as soil water levels are depleted, evapotranspiration has already began and in full gear.

Evapotranspiration (ET) is the water loss occurring from the normal processes evaporation and transpiration. Evaporation occurs when water changes to vapor on either soil or plant surfaces. Transpiration refers to the water lost through the leaves of plants. Evapotranspiration rates vary and are influenced by day length, temperature, cloud cover, wind, relative humidity, mulching, and the soil type, size and number of plants growing in a given area. Well... what does all this mean? Excluding our raised mixed-soil beds, primarily it means that with our type of native soils receiving a few days of sunshine, with back to a normal ET, irrigation in our landscape beds and reserves have started again.

Hurricane & the Wild Animals

! by Cheryl Conley, TWRC Wildlife Center Just as Hurricane Harvey displaced thousands of people. Harvey also displaced thousands of wild animals. Compassionate residents have brought birds, snakes, squirrels and even an alligator to TWRC Wildlife Center for care. Although there is no way of knowing the actual number of animals affected, the numbers are, no doubt, very high. It is human nature to

want to help these animals but in some cases, it is better to leave them alone.

• DEER - Many deer were forced to move to higher ground. People are seeing deer in their yards, in the streets and other areas with dry land. It is for your own safety that you do not try to catch these animals. Make sure that gates are open so they have a way to exit your yard. Sadly, there's nothing else you can do.

• ALLIGATORS AND SNAKES - It seems silly that we would have to warn people to stay away from them but sometimes curiosity gets the best of people. Keep your distance. If you need help identifying a snake to find out if it's venomous, call us and we can help. We can also refer you to a professional who can assist with the removal of snakes. For help with alligators, we recommend you call your Game Warden. To find the Game Warden for your area, go to the Texas Parks and WiIdlife website.

It is baby squirrel season right now and in the case of these animals, your intervention may be needed. If you find a baby, you will first need to try to reunite the baby with its mother. You can do this by placing the baby in a small container near the area where you found it. Make sure the container is safe from dogs and cats. Watch to see if mom comes to get her little one. If, after a couple of hours, the mom has not returned, you will need to intervene. The most important thing is to keep the baby warm. You can accomplish by placing the baby in a box along with a soft cloth and place the box on a heating pad set to low. Do NOT attempt to give the baby food or water. Bring the baby to TWRC Wildlife Center as soon as possible. Chances are very low that you will encounter any other wildlife babies at this time of the year. You may encounter injured adult raccoons, opossums and birds. We advise that you do not try to rescue these animals. Their intention is not to hurt you but they may bite or scratch because they are afraid.

! The City of Sugar Land is hosting a multi-day film festival called Umbria in Sugar Land. Six films will be shown at the Sugar Land Auditorium at 226 Lakeview Drive. Admission is $10.00. One free screening will be at the Sugar Land Town Square Plaza (15958 City Walk). The films are in Italian with English subtitles.

For information and to get your tickets visit www.UmbriaInSugarLand.com.

New Mobile App

In a continuing effort to provide our residents quality service and the latest technology to access community information, First Colony Community Association (FCCA) has developed a FREE mobile application! This fantastic app will allow residents to view the calendar of events, recreation information on classes, map of the facilities, pool hours, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), and receive the latest updates about the community via push notifications. Receive notifications directly to your phone for facility closures, important updates, community emergencies, meeting and event reminders and much more! Make sure you enable "push notifications" if you want to receive important messages from FCCA.

The new app is now available. You can visit the Apple or Google Play Store to download the app by visiting the stores and searching for FCCA connect. For more information please contact alicef@firstcolony.org. This is the first release of the app and we hope you take the time to download it!

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Free Paper Shredding Event

! The holidays will soon be approaching. What better way to start off the season then by getting rid of your clutter! First Colony Community Association is hosting a FREE paper shredding event on Saturday, October 14th from 9 am - 12 pm or until the trucks are full. Items accepted are all paper, file folders, hanging files, notepads and envelopes. There is no need to remove staples, paperclips, fasteners or rubber bands. Unacceptable items include newspapers, magazines, catalogs, electronics and x-rays. Your items will be shredded by PROShred Security on-site. With more than 25 years of trusted mobile paper shredding experience and rigorous commitment to ISO 9001 and NAID AAA quality standards, PROSHRED has pioneered one of the most effective systems for document destruction and on-site shredding services. There is a limit of six (6) boxes or garbage bags per FCCA household. You must be able to get your boxes or bags in the line as this is not a drive through. Boxes need to be taken back with you. The truck will be at the FCCA parking lot located at 4350 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land.

! Movie in the Park Night Bring your family, friends, lawn chairs and blankets to the Aquatic Center Park located at 4350 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land 77479 (near intersection of Cross Lakes and Double Lake) on Saturday, October 14th. Enjoy a FREE movie featuring the Trolls! Presented by First Colony Community Association, the movie is based on the crazy-haired toys that were big business in the 80s.Families will be treated to a colorful troupe of lovable characters who love to sing, dance and play. Princess Poppy is given her crown on the same day that a mysterious giant arrives, but he doesn't want to sing or play. Poppy and Branch go on a rescue mission that takes them further away from home than they've ever been. It's a journey that will challenge their courage and show their true colors. Rated PG;the show begins at dusk(approximately 6:50 pm) on an outdoor theater system and inflatable screen. Come early (5:00 pm) and enjoy free face painting and special treats to start off the Halloween season for the kids! Invite your friends and be our guest for our community movie night.

! Sandwich Bag Drive Kids' Meals is a non-profit program that provides over 2,700 nutritious meals daily to Houston preschool kids. These are local kids. without the program they may not get one single meal each day. The food bank donates the necessary food to make the meals, but Kids' Meals has no way of getting the sandwich re-sealable bags they so desperately need. This is where we can help. First Colony Community Association (FCCA) is hosting a donation box for the "Sandwich Bag Drive". You can help by picking up a box or two of re-sealable sandwich bags when you are doing your own shopping. Then drop them off between now and November 10th at our office located at 4350 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land. The office hours are Monday - Friday from 8 am - 5 pm.

Interested in Becoming an FCCA Board Candidate?

The First Colony Community Association (FCCA) Board of Directors governs the affairs of the Association and operates under FCCA Governance Policies. The Board of Directors is a group of seven members, with two (2) positions up for election this year. The term is three (3) years, beginning January 1, 2018. The Board, in conjunction with staff, is responsible for participating in long range planning and developing goals for the Association. Some other primary duties include: • Determining an annual assessment • Preparing and adopting the budget • Development of Association policy • Hiring/assessing Executive Director FCCA recognizes that volunteering time for a Board position is a major decision. This is another excellent opportunity to become involved with the community and share in the decision making processes of First Colony. Members interested in becoming a Board candidate can visit www.firstcolony.org to obtain a Board member application. Deadline for application is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 22, 2017.

Volunteer as a Neighborhood Representative

! Interested in getting to know your neighbors or community a little better? Then we have a job for you!

Volunteer to be your neighborhood's representative. Neighborhood Representatives are a vital communication link between First Colony Community Association (FCCA) and their neighborhoods. Representatives help create a sense of community. They are elected annually by the property owners in their neighborhoods and serve a one-year term. Each separate neighborhood may have up to three elected Representatives. Representatives should attend Neighborhood Rep meetings (usually four per year) hosted by FCCA. They share information from these meetings with their neighbors. A Representative can also: • Plan and organize special neighborhood events (i.e. ice cream

socials, National Night Out, informational meetings). • Participate in the Welcome Wagon Program for new residents and

welcome them to the neighborhood. • Oversee the use of neighborhood voluntary contributions. Included in the September newsletter is an application for nominating yourself for the position of Neighborhood Representative. The deadline for submitting the application is September 22, 2017. You can also visit the website at www.firstcolony.org to download a form. The individuals elected by their neighborhoods will begin serving their terms on January 1, 2018. If you need more information regarding becoming a neighborhood representative, please contact Alice Fish, Community Relations Manager, at 281-634-9557 or alicef@firstcolony.org.

Youth Splash N Dash

! presented by First Colony Swim Team

October 1, 2017, 8:30 AM ages 5-14 First Colony Aquatic Center 4350 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land 77479 This is a USA Triathlon sanctioned chip timed event. Age Groups 5-7: 50 Yard Swim/1 Mile Run 8-10: 100 Yard Swim/1 Mile Run 11-14: 200 Yard Swim/2 Mile Run Need help preparing for this race? Coach Markell will be offering clinics to help the athletes prepare for the race. Email Triathlon@swimfcst.com for more information on these clinics Visit www.triandfitness.com or email Coach Markell at triathlon@swimfcst.com for additional race info, information on FCST TriClub (for youth and adults), triathlon conditioning classes, youth and adult triathlon clinics, TriSwim group, or Volunteer and Sponsorship info.

! Dragon Boat Regatta Every Year in October, Brooks Lake by the Fluor Building located at 1 Fluor Daniel Drive in Sugar Land, is transformed into a Festive Cultural Center. This year's event will be held October 7-8 from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. National and International Teams will be on hand to promote the tradition of dragon boating. Corporate, community, youth, breast cancer survivor, and competitive teams will paddle the waters in the fastest growing water sport. This free family event has come to be known as one of the largest multicultural and team-building activities in Fort Bend County - bringing over 5,000 visitors. Dragon Boats featuring 20 paddlers, a drummer, and a steersperson will be gliding along the lake paddling in unison towards the finish line. On land, the general public will be able to experience multi-cultural performances by noted performers and performance troops, enjoy the children's activities, sample culturally diverse food choices, will view the water activities, and enjoy the interactive entertainment. Bring your neighbors, friends, and family to this once a year FREE Sugar Land event.

First Colony Community Association (FCCA) is once again an in-kind sponsor for the Dragon Boat Regatta. FCCA is looking for team members to paddle our boat and help us to win the race! The time requirement is Saturday, October 7th from 7:30 am - 4pm and a practice time a week or so before the race (date and time TBD). Please e-mail Farha Ahmed at farha@windstream.net if you would like to participate. Triathlon - Sunday, October 15, 2017

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The 25th Annual Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Try Andy's Tri will take place on Sunday, October 15th at the First Colony Aquatic Center Park hosted by Finish Line Sports. The race includes a 300 meter lake swim, a 10 mile bike ride and a 3 mile run. Participants will begin arriving at 5:30 am with a 7:15 am start to the triathlon. For more information, please call Andy Stewart with Finish Line Sports at 281-242-7700.

! Indo-Americans Celebrate Diwali Diwali, which literally means 'row of lights' is a five-day festival, beginning on the 15th day of Kartika, which is the holiest month in the Hindu calendar. It is called the festival of lights because Diwali marks the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. This year Indo-Americans will be celebrating Diwali from Wednesday, the 18th of October and will continue for 5 days until Sunday, the 22nd of October. The universal theme of celebration is happiness and hope. The festival is celebrated for five continuous days with family gatherings, glittering clay lamps, festive fireworks, strings of electric lights, flowers, sharing of sweets and worship. Diwali holiday lighting on the exterior of the home is allowed within the Association. It is limited to the period of Diwali. The FCCA guidelines for Holiday decorating states that decorations may be installed fourteen (14) days prior to the holiday and must be removed within five (5) days after the holiday is over.

! After-hours Emergency Number To provide further service to the Community, First Colony Community Association is now offering an after-hours emergency phone line to report any emergencies that occur during non-business hours. If you notice an emergency situation( that falls under the control of FCCA) when the FCCA office is not open, you can call or text (281) 705-3051 and leave a message explaining the emergency and a contact number where you can be reached if a follow up is needed. This after-hours line should not be used for police, fire or emergency medical needs.

The Office is open Monday - Friday from 8 am - 5 pm.

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There is a drop box for after hour business such as payments, Property Improvement forms, etc.

FCCA 4350 Austin Parkway

Sugar Land, TX 77479 281-634-9500